leadville 100

leadville, co
Saturday August 14, 2010
by: Kent Carlson

this year my focus was set for august 14 and the leadville 100.  it would be this iowan’s first race in the mountains of colorado.  i decided to make a vacation out of the race and met up with friends near leadville and rode a bunch of cool trails prior to the race while also making it out on a day hike. 
race day came quick and i felt about as ready as i could be on my single speed rigid 29er.  i got my bike lined up early in the a.m. and started in the top 350 or so.  the roll out was fast and i had to spin and tuck the best i could, but dudes were flying around me like i was standing still.  finally we made it to the dirt road and i began to make my way past some of the crowd. 
the st. kevins climb started and i turned the pressure up and passed a lot of racers.  all the way up the climb i continued moving up then we hit the descent and i tried to tuck in best i could.
the same would continue over sugerloaf climb and the pipeline descent where only one person scooted by, not bad for flying rigid on that crazy fast descent.  then the trains started passing me on the flats.  this was a little kick to the junk as i was watching my hard work of the climbs wash away.
however not too long we arrived at the shadows of columbine climb and i had 8 miles of climbing to gain positions.  leading up to the super rocky section i had a really good ride going and that was where i gained a lot of ground in the race.  after that point i probably finished within a few places of those around me because i rode with a few of them the rest of the way back to leadville.  my legs cramped pretty hard from mile 75 on home to mile 103, but i was always able to push through and ride on.
it was a good day to have a good ride and i ended up 3rd single speed at 8:28 and also getting the big belt buckle.
looking forward to some time off, but the gravel worlds might be next on list.  see you out there!